Identifier: uncivilizedraces00wood (find matches)
Title: The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world : being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Wood, J. G. (John George), 1827-1889
Subjects: Ethnology Manners and customs Savages
Publisher: Hartford : J. B. Burr and company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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r to make or eat aniasi, butthat the milk should be at once poured outon the earth. These suggestions wereaccepted; but, after a lapse of three months,a composition was made by large numliersof oxen offered to Tchaka liy the chiefs.The last, and most astounding, suggestionwas, that if during the ensuing year anychild should be born, or even if such anevent were likely to occur, both the parentsand the child should be summarily exe-cuted. As this suggestion was, in fact, onlya carrying out, on a large scale, of the prin-ciple followed by Tchaka in his own house-holds, he readily gave his consent; andduring the whole of the year there wasmuch innocent blood shed. After the year had expired, Tchaka deter-mined upon another expiatory sacrifice, asa preliminary to the ceremony liy which hewent out of mourning. This, however, didnot take place, owing to the remonstrancesof Mr. Fynn, who succeeded in persuadingthe despot to spare the lives of his subjects.One reason why Tchaka acceded to the
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iiUlUAL OF TCIIAKAS MOTIIKU. (Soe page ;;u:;.>(203) ABANDONMENT OF THE AGED. 205 request was his amusement at the notionof a white man pleading for tlie life of dogs. The whole of the able-bodied part of thepopulation had taken warning by the mas-sacre of the previous year, and presentedthemselves at the ceremony. They werearranged in regiments, and, as soou as thediief made his appearance, they movedsimultaneously to the tops of the hills thatsurrounded the great kraal in which theceremony was to take place. Upward of aliundred thousand oxen were brought to-gether to grace the ceremony, their bellow-ing being tliought to be a grateful sound tothe spirits of the dead. Standing amidstthis savage accompaniment to his voice,Tchaka began to weep and sob loudly, thewhole assembly echoing the sound, as induty bound, and making a most hideousdin. This noisy rite began in the after-noon, and closed at sunset, when Tchakaordered a quantity of cattle to lie killed fora feast. Next day came t

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